2025 Conference Keynotes
2025 Annual Conference
After battling depression, suicide, and drug addiction, Justin Wren experienced a life-changing journey living with the Mbuti Pygmy people of the Congo Basin Rainforest. When he returned he founded Fight For The Forgotten, to knockout the world water crisis, which today has expanded its impact to serve the Batwa Pygmies of Uganda. Justin has a deep-seated belief & ability to empower people to stoke the fire that is within us all.
Justin "The Big Pygmy" Wren is a 10 time State Champion, 5 time All American, and 2 time National Champion Wrestler, UFC veteran,and has been inducted into the Black Belt Magazine Hall of Fame. His MMA record is 15-2.
As a humanitarian he's the Founder and CEO of the non-profit Fight for the Forgotten, also authoring a bestselling book with the same name through Simon & Schuster publishing.
Justin's transformative storytelling Ignites a fire in the human soul that inspires and empowers us to take action that leads deeper purpose, high performance, and long-lasting change and impact.
Justin has inspired millions through his appearances on the Joe Rogan Experience (9x), Mike Tyson's HotBoxin', the Ed Mylett Show, ESPN, Sports Illustrated, NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, and TEDx Talks, along with his book, Fight for the Forgotten. Today he is the host of his own inspirational podcast, Overcome with Justin Wren and a globally recognized keynote speaker.
Dr. Renee Thompson, CEO and Founder of the Healthy Workforce Institute, is a dynamic and highly sought-after keynote speaker and a leading authority on eliminating bullying and incivility in healthcare. As a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) and award-winning author, Renee brings over three decades of leadership and clinical expertise to her mission of transforming toxic work cultures into thriving, healthy environments.
Recognized among LinkedIn's Top Voices and Top Nurse Influencers, Renee has inspired thousands of healthcare leaders across the globe with her practical, results-driven approach to addressing disruptive behaviors. Her contributions to nursing were honored in 2022 when she was inducted as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN), solidifying her status as a trailblazer in workforce culture transformation.
In her keynote presentation, Renee will equip healthcare leaders with evidence-based, practical strategies to finally put an end to workplace bullying and incivility.
Yemi Penn is a fearless thought leader who empowers individuals to create their own memo—taking charge of their lives by writing their own scripts. An engineer by profession, an entrepreneur by passion, and a Curious Rebel by mission, she has successfully built and run three businesses. Now, through her PhD research at La Trobe University, Yemi explores the alchemy of transmuting pain into power, driven by her desire to challenge the status quo and discover new ways of being.
Yemi’s journey is one of inspiring leaders to embrace transformation, curiosity, and resilience. She believes that in today’s ever-evolving landscape, true leadership comes from those willing to step into the unknown and rewrite outdated narratives. By blending the creative art of filmmaking with her analytical mind, Yemi shifts her life’s purpose to raising the vibration of acknowledging and healing individual and collective trauma. In a world that has faced profound challenges over the past few years, she shares practical tools for igniting rebellious curiosity—empowering leaders and communities to inspire, transform, and foster collective well-being.
Adam Grant, organizational psychologist and bestselling author, will be presenting at AONL live virtually from his home base.
Grant has been Wharton’s top-rated professor for seven years. He has been recognized as one of the world’s 10 most influential management thinkers and Fortune’s 40 under 40. He is the author of multiple #1 New York Times best-selling books that have sold millions of copies and been translated into 45 languages—including Hidden Potential, Think Again, Give and Take, and Originals. His viral piece on languishing was the most-read New York Times article of 2021 and the most-saved article across all platforms.
Adam’s TED talks on givers and takers, languishing, and original thinkers have been viewed more than 35 million times. He received a standing ovation at TED, and his speaking and consulting clients include Google, the NBA, the Gates Foundation, and the World Economic Forum, where he has been honored as a Young Global Leader. He hosts the TED podcasts Re:Thinking and WorkLife; writes on work and psychology for The New York Times; and has served on the Defense Innovation Board at the Pentagon. He has over 8 million followers on social media and shares monthly insights in his newsletter, GRANTED.
Adam received his B.A. from Harvard and his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan. He is a former magician and junior Olympic springboard diver.
Chad Foster is a trailblazing executive, innovator, and motivational speaker who proves that adversity can lead to success. After losing his eyesight as a young adult, Chad became the first blind executive to graduate from Harvard Business School's leadership program and developed the first-ever CRM software for visually impaired users while at Oracle. Chad’s career is a testament to resilience and ingenuity. At a Fortune 500 company, he directed financial strategies that generated billions in revenue and industry-leading growth in competitive markets. His ability to thrive in challenging environments has made him a trusted advisor and speaker for organizations like Google, IBM, Salesforce, GE, and Microsoft.
In his keynote, Chad will break down the anatomy of resilience, offering actionable strategies to help individuals and teams overcome setbacks, foster a growth mindset, and unlock their potential. An avid downhill skier and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner, Chad lives the “go-for-it” mindset he teaches. His mission is to empower others to transcend limitations, leaving them motivated and equipped to tackle life’s challenges with confidence and courage.